Be brave, my Bhoys

Rodgers wants big effort from Celtic against Euro giants Barca

Brendan Rodgers wants to see some brave hearts on the field tonight as his Celtic side square up to Barcelona, hoping to keep alive their slim hopes of playing European football into 2017.

But the Antrim man maintains that the Bhoys have "learned" from their last experience against Barca, a 7-0 thrashing in the Nou Camp three months ago.

Celtic need a series of results to go their way to make it into the last-16 of the Champions League, starting with a win over Barca tonight and then a win away to Manchester City, but even a third-place finish in the group would put them into the Europa League. But they need to stand up to the Catalan side tonight and show the bravery which was missing in the away leg.

"We showed them too much respect and the scoreline was bitterly disappointing at the time," said Rodgers.

"There were many aspects we learnt from, like being brave, and the players have shown they have learned from that.

"It was a tough game against a top-class, world-class team, but I'd hope it will be a different performance from ourselves.

"We have to fight and ensure we do everything we can to try to stop them, but it's not easy.

"They are a team of quality that can play through pressure and we have have to play how we are best - on the front foot," he added. "We have to look to impose our style and make it as difficult as we possibly can."